vicious [d.m]

five: tyrants & archers

"You wretched little thing."

Her mother is a whirlwind of firm hands and warmth, draping a blanket around Khione's shoulders before calling for Cal who stands in the doorway, shivering himself from the cold outside. "Cal, get my wand. And close that bloody door, would you?"

Cal obeys, hopping over the low-backed sofa to grab their mother's wand off the coffee table, as she fusses over Khione who can barely feel the tip of her nose. "What in the world were you doing out on the ice on your own? How many times have I told you—"

"I've been out there before," Khione says, indignantly, earning a scoff out of her mother. "What? I have. Just ask Cal."

"What?" Mama turns on Cal who shrinks back, his hand holding her wand still gingerly outstretched. "You knew she'd been going out on the ice? Calais!"

Cal glares at Khione who ignores him as their mother casts a Warming Charm over her, throwing another blanket over her shoulders and tugging it tight. "Start the fire, Cal."

He gives Khione one last dirty look and heads over to the fireplace, stumbling over the old family dog, Tango, who yelps and then promptly goes back to sleep. By this point, Khione's teeth have stopped chattering although she still feels like ice has frozen the blood in her veins.

"If your father was here..." Mama mutters, shoving a mug of steaming hot cocoa into her hands. "Wretched girl."

Khione smiles to herself — and her mother catches it, poking her cheek, half-affectionate, half-reprimanding. "Get that grin off your face, Khione. You could've died."

For a split second, Khione thinks of telling her — about how she almost did, about the piano and the silver thread that brought her back. But Mama is worried enough — and so she stays silent, allowing herself to be fussed over. Even at just fifteen, Khione realises the fragility of it all — the presence of their father, the growing tension in the Wizarding World. She's learned to take it easy on her mother — but she's still a menace despite her efforts.

"What is that?"

Khione's face is suddenly gripped in her mother's hand, wrenching her to the side, causing a muscle to pull in her neck. "Ow!"

Her mother is peering at her, curiously, her eyes fixed on Khione's, flicking back and forth.

"Mama—" Khione struggles but her mother hushes her, examining her eyes, closely.

"That wasn't there before," Mama murmurs, gesturing to Cal. "Cal, come here."

He does, hurrying over, a crease between his brows, following his mother's gaze. Khione suddenly feels like an animal being peered at in a zoo.

"Are my eyes deceiving me?" Mama murmurs, still with a firm grip around Khione's jaw. Cal shakes his head, lips parting.

"What?" Fear begins to creep up on Khione, itching the back of her neck. "What is it?"

Cal scampers off to grab the hand-held mirror from the bathroom and when he returns, their mother has stepped back, her mouth a grim line. Khione snatches it from him, searching her face, bewilderment etched on her features. She looks the same —  her nose, sulky pout, splattering of freckles over her brown skin. Auburn hair, still dripping wet, tucked behind her ears. Sleek, green eyes—

With a slash of blue through the right one.

A gasp rips from her throat as she stares at her reflection, at the new addition to her eye.

"How—" Her voice trails off as she examines herself, confused.

Mama crouches down in front of her, hands on Khione's knees, gripping tight. "What happened in the lake?"